One thing that bothers me is why on earth would the creator of the universe want us to offer up our lives for any religion? It makes no sense to me. The early Babi's gave their lives. I suppose in exchange for eternal life? Another example of an extremist religion, bordering on cultism. That's a tipoff to those with half a brain, not to join that faith. IMO
What is the Baha'i explanation of why God allows so much suffering in the world. From birth defects, fatal diseases, tsunamis, earthquakes, extreme weather, to the brutal things humans do to each other.
I joined the Baha'i Faith at age 21 in a small town. Where we had real firesides in the woods, with a fire burning! It was pretty cool, I have to say.
Then I moved to a big city, and my world expanded. By age 32 or so, wasn't into the Faith too much. And pretty much stopped going to meetings. When I was in my early 50's I started going again to Ruhi. And I was kinda turned off by Ruhi deepenings. We were being trained to all think alike and go out to get converts. Then I remember one meeting when a Regional teaching committee guy came and gave a talk of sorts. And I remember feeling like, wow, this guy is so extreme. It was almost like a militaristic type of talk. And we were supposed to follow orders and convert the world, type of feeling.
Another huge turn off for me. I don't like groups as I am an introvert. And I did the street teaching thing in my early years, and went to a foreign country and did a short stint teaching the Faith. And now when I look back, I feel almost ashamed of doing that. It's embarassing to me.
So again I stopped going to meetings. And now in my mid 70s, I have not been to a meeting. And you know what? And this is a big turn off for me, I never heard from the Baha'i community except for a few emails here and there. Never got a phone call from anyone, or anything. So I think, all those years of service way back when, and I don't even rate a how do you do! That made me angry.
So the Faith is just a huge teaching/converting people machine. And I remember thinking in my 30s that the moral standard is so high, that it is unrealistic for mortal people to attain.
And after studying religion for 3 decades, taking Buddhist classes, studying atheism, deism, and listening to countless debates between Christians and Atheists, I have concluded that religion is man-made. And when I think of the Baha'i Faith, there are principles I agree with, but overall the control it exerts over its followers, as with all religions, makes me want to run and hide.
There are other things I could say, but I'll stop here.
Well, that's my 50 year story of my on and off relationship with the Faith.
Can anyone explain to me why the Baha'i Faith believes in the Virgin Birth of Christ yet does not believe in the Resurrecton of Christ?
Is the Baha'i view of the virgin birth solely symbolic, spiritual meanings? Or do the Baha'i's believe it to be a physical virgin birth?
This has me confused. In the Baha'i Faith it says God has sent his Messengers to all people and cultures. If this is so, then why were most early cultures paganistic in ancient ancient? Did not these Messengers tell their people that there is only one God?